Rush Breaks 400m School Record at Frank Sevigne Meet

LINCOLN, Neb. - Cody Rush set the 400-meter indoor school record for an exciting end to the first day at the 40th annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Friday night.

Rush, a junior from Grand Island, sprinted to a time of 46.32 in the last of 10 heats in the 400 meters to win in dramatic fashion and bring the Devaney Center crowd of 1,349 to a standing ovation. The Huskers had a big night in the event, as Jacob Bender took third with a PR of 47.38, Drew Wiseman was fifth at 47.58 (PR) and Levi Gipson was sixth at 47.67. But Rush stole the show, topping the previous school record of 46.37 (Tamas Molnar, 1990). Rush's previous PR had been 47.05, set in a first-place performance at last year's Frank Sevigne Husker Invite. He now ranks first in the Big Ten and eighth in the nation in the event.

The Husker multi-eventers successfully set the tone at the toughest meet this season so far with their first heptathlon and pentathlon of the year. Melissa-Maree Farrington won the pentathlon with 4,081 points, a new career best and the eighth-best mark in indoor school history. Farrington, who now ranks second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in the event, began the day with event titles in the 60m hurdles and high jump, the latter of which she claimed with a PR of 5-7 3/4.

Guy Fenske holds the lead in the heptathlon with 3,021 points heading into the final three events on Saturday morning. Fenske set a PR in the 60 meters (7.25), long jump (22-5 1/4), shot put (44-11) and high jump (6-4). Cody Walton is in third place with 2,966 points. Walton set PRs in the 60 meters (7.16) and shot put (44-11 1/2) and matched his PR in the high jump (6-2 3/4). Noah Gabel started the day with PRs in the 60 meters (7.09) and long jump (23-3 1/2) to take first in both events and is in fifth place overall with 2,939 points.

Farrington and Jordan Stiens qualified for Saturday's 60-meter hurdles finals. Farrington posted an 8.41, while Stiens set a PR at 8.45. Oladapo Akinmoladun ran a season-best 7.91 60-meter hurdles to take the top qualifying spot. Sean Pille also qualified with a PR of 7.99. Ricco Hall advanced to the men's 60-meter dash final with a qualifying mark of 6.78.

Sophomore Jazmin McCoy had her best showing of the season, as the All-American eclipsed 20 feet for the first time this season in the long jump with a mark of 20-0 1/4 to finish as the top college competitor and second overall. Her mark ranks second in the Big Ten this season. Only former Husker Mara Griva edged her on Friday with a jump of 20-3. Tierra Williams came in fourth at 19-10 1/4. Nikita Pankins set a PR in the long jump of 23-11 to finish fifth.

Paula Andrie placed second in the pole vault with a mark of 13-4 1/4. Tess Merrill took fourth at 12-10 1/4.

The Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational concludes on Saturday with the men’s heptathlon slated to start things off at 10 a.m. The running and field event finals will begin at noon.